"As criminals become more sophisticated, so we must raise our game to fight it," he said. "We must make better use of technology to stay ahead.

"The creation of a single agency to tackle organised crime marks a step change in our efforts to reduce the harm it does to the UK and its citizens."

Mr Blunkett said that Sir Stephen and Bill Hughes, as chairman and director general of SOCA, would between them link the tackling of organised crime at local and regional levels with international intelligence in a "unique partnership".

Sir Stephen, who was married and has a grown-up daughter, said that he and the director general would set out to disrupt and disable the criminal "Mr Bigs" who were damaging the country.

Mr Hughes, a former assistant chief constable in West Yorkshire, said he wanted to build an organisation that would attack the complex world of serious and organised crime, working with partners abroad when criminals cross borders.

"It is a challenge, but one I'm keen to drive forward and make a reality," said Mr Hughes.